Father Martin E. Bedoya, 81, died Sept. 25. He was the former associate pastor of St. Mary Parish, Des Plaines.

Born in Colombia, he began studies in the Seminary of Yarumal, graduating with the Friars of Rafael de la Serna.

After arriving in the United States, he earned a bachelor’s degree at Chicago State University and a master’s degree in human service administration from Spertus College. He then began a career in Catholic hospitals, becoming chief cardiovascular technologist and director of cardiology and neurology at Columbus Hospital before working as a public service administrator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

He became an active parishioner at St. Mary and was encouraged to speak to Cardinal Francis George, who encouraged him to study for the priesthood.

Father Bedoya attended Pope St. John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, which specializes in forming men who discern their priestly vocations later in life. He was ordained in 2003.

Father Bedoya served as associate pastor at St. John the Evangelist, Streamwood, until 2005 and St. Mary until 2013, when he retired.

“He wasn’t ordained until he was 63, but he had a vocation his whole life,” said Father Lawrence Collins, pastor of St. Mary. Father Bedoya and Collins worked together at St. Mary Parish for three years, cherishing their friendship even after Bedoya retired. He would always help those in need, whether clothing and toys for children or food for families, according to Collins.

Father John J. (Jerry) Bresnahan, 86, died Sept. 26. He was pastor emeritus of the former St. Beatrice Parish, Schiller Park.

Father Bresnahan was born in Chicago and attended St. Ailbe School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1960.

Father Jerry, as he was known by his parishioners, was assistant pastor of St. Joseph, Homewood; St. Andrew (Addison Street); St. Germaine, Oak Lawn; and St. Joseph, Libertyville. He was a U.S. Army chaplain for five years before serving as associate pastor of St. Mary of the Woods and as pastor at St. Beatrice Parish for 22 years. He was named pastor emeritus in 2005.

“Father Jerry was well loved and respected by the people he served,” said Father Robert Schultz, pastor of Holy Virgin Martyrs Parish in Schiller Park. “His influence on St. Beatrice Parish was felt for years after his retirement. He was known for being soft-spoken, a gentle soul and a true gentleman.”

Deacon Richard M. Willer, 85, died Sept. 14. He was ordained in 1997 and served at St. Thomas of Villanova, Palatine.

Deacon Willer was also a U.S. Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Mary; his children Christine Hofmann, Charlene Gauer, Carol Nash and Colleen Lee; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Barbara Castronovo.

Providence Sister Laurine (Dorothy Catherine) Haley, 93, died Sept. 6 in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. Born in Massachusetts, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1945 and professed final vows in 1953.

She ministered for 45 years in schools in Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Maryland and Washington, D.C., and then ministered to the elderly.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she served at St. Columbkille Day Nursery and St. Genevieve School.

Viatorian Father Michael P. Keliher, 74, died Sept. 10 at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights. 

Born in Kankakee, he made his first profession in 1966 and was ordained in 1976.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and pre-medicine in 1970 from Loyola University Chicago and a master’s degree in divinity from Catholic Theological Union.

Father Keliher taught biology and coached both wrestling and golf at St. Viator High School (1970-1972, 1976-1985) and was a parish priest in Illinois and in Las Vegas, including at St. Viator Parish in Chicago.

He moved to the Viatorian Province Center residence when he retired in July 2019.

Dominican Father John Louis (Mannes) Gambro, 91, died Sept. 19 at Resurrection Life Center.

Born in Chicago, he attended St. Thomas Aquinas School, St. Mel High School and Loras Collage in Dubuque, Iowa, before entering the Dominican order at age 20.

He finished his bachelor’s degree and earned a master’s degree at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest and earned another master’s degree in classical languages at Loyola University Chicago.

He was ordained in 1957 and embarked on a 45-year ministry as a high school Latin teacher at Fenwick High School, Oak Park (1957-1963, 1978-2002) and in Texas. He retired in the Chicago area, living at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, River Forest, and St. Pius V Priory before moving finally to Resurrection Village Life Center.

He is survived by his brother, Francis James Gambro.

Jesuit Father John J. Foley, 96, died Aug. 2 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Father Foley was born in New Jersey and grew up in Oak Park, where he attended Fenwick High School. He graduated in 1944 and joined the U.S. Marine Corps, seeing action at Okinawa in the last battle of World War II.

He taught at Loyola Academy, Wilmette (1953-1956); the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary (1963-1967) and St. Ignatius College Prep (1969-1970). He returned to Loyola Academy as director of development (1970-1973, 1975-1976), religion teacher (1970-1975) and director of parent activities (1975-1981).

After a sabbatical, he ministered as assistant director (1982-1983) and director (1983-1987) of Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, Illinois, where he was the assistant director (1982-1983), while serving as superior of the Bellarmine Jesuit community. He then was a chaplain to dental students at Loyola University Medical Center and also served as the superior of the Loyola University Medical Center Jesuit Community (1987-1993).

He became minister of the Gonzaga House Jesuit Community (1993-1996) as well as serving as acting president (1994-1995) and special assistant to the president of Loyola Academy (1996-1998, 2000-2013). He also served as chaplain of the Loyola Academy football team.

He became pastor of St. Ignatius Church in Chicago (1998-2000), and focused on pastoral ministry after leaving Loyola Academy (2013-2019). He celebrated weekend Masses at St. Joseph, Wilmette, for many years.

School Sister of St. Francis Laureen Haben, 95, died Aug. 28 at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

Born in Evanston, Sister Laureen was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1944 and made her final vows in 1952.

Beginning in 1947, Sister Laureen ministered in Illinois, New York and Wisconsin for more than seven decades. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Mary, Buffalo Grove (1964-1966), and at Immaculate Conception (1966-1973).

Sister Laureen is survived by a sister, Joyce Burke.

Religious Hospitaller of St. Joseph Sister Margaret Wright, 85, died Sept. 4.

Born in Chicago, she made religious vows in 1959 and dedicated her life to the care of the sick.

She retired in 2013 from her position as president of St. George Corporation and chief executive officer of Palos Community Hospital, where she had served since 1978.

Father John A. Farry, 82, died Aug. 12. He was pastor emeritus of St. Andrew (Addison Street).

Born in New York, Father Farry was educated in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He attended St. Sabina, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1965.

He was assistant pastor of Our Lady of Solace and associate pastor of St. Bernard (now known as St. Benedict the African) and Holy Name Cathedral. He was pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Andrew, where the title of pastor emeritus was bestowed on him in 2009.

Father Farry was also member of the Presbyteral Senate, College of Consultors and served as coordinator of the Englewood Catholic Community.